Unexplained Weight Loss – When Should You Worry?

Those of you who are not bone-thin would probably welcome a bit of unexpected weight loss-especially if it meant you doing nothing to change your usual habits. But the truth is that unexplained weight loss can be a warning sign of a serious illness, or of an imbalance in your system.

If you or someone you know has experienced fat loss recently and can not find an explanation for it, take a look at some of these common symptoms and see if anything resonates with you. Of course, this list is not comprehensive – it's always strongly recommended that you visit your doctor to find out more.

Unexplained weight loss could have been tied to your mental health. But this is often hard to recognize, because there are no other physical symptoms, like chronic pain or a change in skin coloration. Mental health issues that can lead to excessive fat loss include the following, and can be treated with therapy and / or drugs:

– Grief – Anxiety – Depression – Anorexia nervosa

Chronic conditions affecting your digestive system can lead to fat loss that can not otherwise be explained. The following are some symptoms that, when connected with unexplained weight loss, can be a sign of a digestive issue.

Fat loss can also occur in people of any age because of medications that they have been prescribed. If you've recently started medication, or if your doctor has started you on medication, and you've experienced weight loss, contact your doctor and let them know.

Tapeworms, which can be contracted from undercooked fish, pork or beef, can cause unexplained weight loss. Symptoms of tapeworms range from none at all to constant hunger but with no gain gain, abdominal pain, digestive problems or worms in stool.

While this information is not meant to scare you, it is important to know that if you've been losing weight quickly without dieting, there might be a serious reason for it. In short, no weight loss is unexplained. See your doctor if things get really weird.